Microbial ecology; community interactions; fungus-growing ants; natural product discovery; phylogenomics. Assoc. Prof. @UConn. Maintains @Symbiosispapers.
Storrs, CT, USA
Based in United States
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My sick kids scuttled our turkey with friends plan (they are almost healthy now after 1 week) but I'm thankful at least for a day off that I can use to putter on home projects. May you find some rest, whatever form it takes.
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Digging through data from an old project and SO GRATEFUL for good record keeping by previous lab members. @DNA_Hipster @EG_Microbio @katiee_kyle
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My lab just got a phishing email pretending to be me for the first time. So I guess I've now arrived...somewhere?
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Interesting phrasing by my work Outlook: apparently @UConnITS is responsible for sending delayed send reminders and shortcuts when emailing outside of normal working hours. Nice that at least SOMEONE at work is thinking practically about work-life-balance.
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Big congrats to lab undergrad Darren Lee, who presented his Holster Scholar project today - great job!
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Well I had a good run at least. I'm fine, just snotty and tired at times. Mostly annoyed at having to reorganize all my teaching etc. This would have been simpler in summer...
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The semester approaches, but it can't have me yet... #Vacation #NoPlaceLikeHome
ALT Small beach with rocky headlands, East Sooke Canada
ALT Temperate rainforest, Sandcut Beach Canada
ALT Ocean with background islands, Island View Beach Canada
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Their evolutionary cousins Trachymyrmex septentrionalis have smaller colonies, but also antibiotic-producing Pseudonocardia bacteria (the white dots) that help protect the fungus gardens. These live throughout the eastern USA as far north as the NY and NJ Pine Barrens.
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May I suggest the North American leaf-cutter Atta texana? This queen is from Louisiana. They make massive colonies and farm symbiotic fungi underground.
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Working in my office for the first week since June; family holidays are next week. It's been a crazy summer for fieldwork as we scramble to study a forest fire that happened next to one of our main sampling sites. Grateful for the lab's hard work, esp. @katiee_kyle.
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That's a wrap for #BeneficialMicrobesMtg - next one is already on the books for 2024, looking forward to seeing everyone there!
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Clear highlight of the entire meeting: @katiee_kyle is talking about how fungus growing ants detect and respond to pathogens of their cultivar mutualist. #proudPI #BeneficialMicrobesMtg
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Excited to be back in Madison for #BeneficialMicrobesMtg. Now if I can just remember how to do this "conference" thing...
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Some days are just A RIDE. So far this AM:
- Paper published
- Got bridge funding to do a time-limited research project
- Negotiated a thorny personnel conflict
- Taught kids their house chores while spouse works in-person
And then I wonder why focus is so hard?
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Went to the non-science side of campus today for the first time in ... years, I guess. Kinda forgot it exists, TBH. It's quite nice.
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Students: you get a lot of negatives, but sometimes your work is awesome and it's so encouraging. Well done. #editing
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That thing when you open up your afternoon schedule by screwing up a meeting time. #professorial
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I'm increasingly realizing my tendency to stare off into space during important conversations with people. It's not you, I'm just trying really really hard not to say something stupid. #sorry
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I could keep doomscrolling, or answer this email survey I just got asking my opinions about UFOs #options
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Today is @EG_Microbio's last day in the lab and she gave me this amazing gift, so many great memories of the group together. Thank you so much Emily, for this and all you've given us these last 6+ years. #AllTheFeelz
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Congrats to MSc student Hellen Edwards (not on Twitter) for a very successful thesis defense!
📷credit: @katiee_kyle
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Pleasantly surprised to find that University Catering upped their sandwich game since the before-times. #HowLongCanItLast
It has now been 1 week since I started my Christmas vacation and I've only checked my email once since then. I'm quite proud of myself. #AcademicHoliday #NotVeryGoodAtRealBreaks
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Time to pack it in for Christmas. My family cancelled (cross-border travel for the immunocompromised not advised; sad but I get it) but we did adopt these loonies last week. Have a happy holiday everyone, wherever you find yourselves.
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Good news (I guess?): after 7+ hrs of dental over the last 2 weeks (3 root canals!), my 11 yr old might finally be done. Poor kid fell and broke his tooth clean off over Thanksgiving.
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There is so much party parrot for @EG_Microbio in the lab Slack right now and I am here for it all.
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Daughter (13): Can I ask about Punnett squares?
Me: ok
D: If a mermaid & merman had 4 kids, would they be a fish, a human, and 2 merfolk?
Me: I suppose
D: And if a mermaid and a centaur had 4 kids...
Me:
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